Changes for next year...

[805Bowhunter]

While I know a lot of elk hunting still needs to be done this season...for those of you who have already finished up your 2019 elk season, now that everything is still super fresh, what changes do you plan on making to your elk setup. Could be stuff in pack, could be bow/arrow/weapon setup, could be general approach to season...

Just curious as after each September I make a list of things I need to address or focus on. I feel like I have really got the "backpacking/packing" aspect pretty dialed now...want to test some broadhead/vane/arrow combos in the coming months. Been shooting the same combo for a very long time and would just like to try some different stuff to see how it goes.

Whats on your list of things to work on/address for next year?

 

[Dakota Dude]

My bow is going to get tuned up. New strings, silencers, and rest. New heavier arrows as well.

Another change I would like to make is to find a hunting partner that is a comparable caller. It's hard getting those bulls to finish when you're on your own.

 

[5MilesBack]

I'm good. Pretty well finished fine tuning all my gear and setup a few years ago.......after many many years of changes.

 

[Wapiti1]

New pants. I lost some weight and my Core 4's no longer fit. I love those pants. My wife said I looked like I was wearing my dad's camo.

Jeremy

 

[Elkchaser54]

New backpack is #1 priority ! And still nursing a badly sprained ankle, luckily it happened on the last day and it waited til I got back to camp (4 miles), took my boots off before it decided to swell up and hurt.

 

[CMF]

practice calling more
would like to sell my metcalf and get an Exo
want to switch to an adjustable pin bow sight from fixed and extend my range
go back to lighted nocks
pack less food on backpack hunt
upgrade tent from river country trekker 2.2 to Zpack duplex or something lighter
figure out an easy access to place to store windchecker/calls, maybe a diy hipbelt holster

 

[Moneyball]

New boots!!!! Cold, wet, blistered feet are the absolute worst.

 

[Rob5589]

New boots, 4 seasons on mine and they are showing/feeling like it.
Practice calling.
Less food in the pack.

 

[bmf0713]

practice calling more
would like to sell my metcalf and get an Exo
want to switch to an adjustable pin bow sight from fixed and extend my range
go back to lighted nocks
pack less food on backpack hunt
upgrade tent from river country trekker 2.2 to Zpack duplex or something lighter
figure out an easy access to place to store windchecker/calls, maybe a diy hipbelt holster

How’d you like that river country tent. I bought one because the price and weight looked good. Haven’t use it yet. Ended up with a seek outside cimarron I’m gonna take.

 

[Lark Bunting]

I spent more time helping friends out on moose hunts this year which was an awesome experience. Watched two buddy's get their moose.

As far as changes- I will probably not hunt OTC in Colorado for long while. I would rather hunt elk in a 1-2 point draw unit every few years and focus on deer in between those years.

We need a serious recession and gas prices need to hit $6.00/gal to limit the amount of hunters out there.

 

[muddydogs]

Just purchased an Orange Glow panel for the pack, found the Orange pack cover to be a pain to deal with taking it on and off every time I wanted in the pack.

Need to figure out a simple sling for the rifle, love the gun bearer but found I was balancing my rifle against my leg when trying to use the bugle tube and bino's at the same time instead of putting the rifle back into the gun bearer. I would like something simple that won't get in the way and I can sling my rifle across my front. Might have to go back to my 2 point web strap sling.

Found that Black Ovis XL bags aren't long enough to cover a front shoulder so I will continue to carry 2 Allen Gear bags for the fronts, 2 Ovis sacks for the rears and 2 loose met bags.

Don't forget to check my water level each morning, it was a long pack out until 1230 am without any water after 8pm.

Purchase an Inreach Mini so it fits better in the bino harness.

Instead of dulling up a bunch of fillet blades I used my Outdoor edge knife to process my elk which worked great and it was sure nice I didn't have a bunch of knives to sharpen though I used a bunch of blades which are around $40 for 24. So I just purchased 100 60XT scalpel blades for $34 bucks and the $2.50 blade handle from Havalon to use as a processing knife.

Get an analog meat thermometer so I can check the internal meat temp. At 1230 am it was still 60 degrees so quarters went into the chest freezer and ran via genny until noon that day. At 7 am I decided to bone the hinds and almost didn't do the second as the first was fairly cool at the bone. Well I did bone the other hind and found that it was quite a bit warmer next to the bone then the first. Figure a $6 thermometer would take the guess work out of temps especially in hot weather hunts.

 

[corey006]

When I was younger and stronger I didn't have to shoot my bow as much to maintain good form.

Now as I have aged my back muscles and shoulders are weaker. I need to strengthen these muscles and shoot every week to maintain better form.



Practice shooting out of treestand...its alot different than level ground.

I had most action of my hunting career this year out of treestand(set up in transition area between bedding and feeding area.) Closer to bedding area.


I am also going with heavier arrow and still searching for a good broad head that will penetrate well from 0 to 60 yards....get a passthrough and leave a BIG hole.


I also would like a bow sight with 4 pins with different color fibers that I could use ribbons around my treestand so the ribbon at 40 yards would match the corresponding pin color.

Would eliminate need for range finder.(when in the treestand)

 

[WannabeHunter]

Get in even better shape. Wasn't bad, but could always be better. Missed at least 2 opportunities cause I was either gassed or huffing and puffing so hard there was no way I could draw my bow.

Upgrade tent. Currently Kelty Grand Mesa 2 (older verison with door at front not side. Great tent that worked, but it's just too heavy at almost 5 lbs for 1 person.

Rework food. I don't eat that much normally, and I took about 3000 calories per day. WAY too much food for me. Packed out about 1.5 days worth of food. No bueno.

 

[Mossy]

Be a better caller!!!! Let my partner down in a bad way.....

 

[Elktaco]

Make sure I buy my Idaho tag as soon as they go on sale!!

 

[Obsessed1]

Just purchased an Orange Glow panel for the pack, found the Orange pack cover to be a pain to deal with taking it on and off every time I wanted in the pack.

Need to figure out a simple sling for the rifle, love the gun bearer but found I was balancing my rifle against my leg when trying to use the bugle tube and bino's at the same time instead of putting the rifle back into the gun bearer. I would like something simple that won't get in the way and I can sling my rifle across my front. Might have to go back to my 2 point web strap sling.

Found that Black Ovis XL bags aren't long enough to cover a front shoulder so I will continue to carry 2 Allen Gear bags for the fronts, 2 Ovis sacks for the rears and 2 loose met bags.

Don't forget to check my water level each morning, it was a long pack out until 1230 am without any water after 8pm.

Purchase an Inreach Mini so it fits better in the bino harness.

Instead of dulling up a bunch of fillet blades I used my Outdoor edge knife to process my elk which worked great and it was sure nice I didn't have a bunch of knives to sharpen though I used a bunch of blades which are around $40 for 24. So I just purchased 100 60XT scalpel blades for $34 bucks and the $2.50 blade handle from Havalon to use as a processing knife.

Get an analog meat thermometer so I can check the internal meat temp. At 1230 am it was still 60 degrees so quarters went into the chest freezer and ran via genny until noon that day. At 7 am I decided to bone the hinds and almost didn't do the second as the first was fairly cool at the bone. Well I did bone the other hind and found that it was quite a bit warmer next to the bone then the first. Figure a $6 thermometer would take the guess work out of temps especially in hot weather hunts.

Google unsling it. It's a simple paracord sling that attaches to your pack. It flat out works and is lighter than the 2 point sling

 

[Bigsteak]

Boots for me as well. Wet feet really slowed me down. I could use a slightly warmer sleeping bag. Need to learn some better tactics for when the elk are quiet too. I heard 3 bugles all week.

 

[netman]

Understand what the elk are bugling. Better understand their sounds.
Get my planter fasciitis remedied or chop my foot off.
Im still in elk hunting mode as I’m about to return to Montana. Got a fourth season rifle elk in Colorado and my Kentucky elk tag for December.
Other than that I’m fairly tuned in.

 

[Agross]

You drew a Kentucky elk tag?!! Wow, Nice !

 

[ShortMountain91]

Definitely going to change my bow site so I can get my quiver closer to the riser. Now my sight makes the quiver sit out further and torques my bow like crazy

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